One day I had a bright idea to make a shoe shine box. Tom’s Barber Shop was on the corner and the Murray Family were regulars. I had no idea how to shine shoes. My dad spotted me a few bucks for black, brown and Cordovan shoe polish, a stiff brush, and a buffing rag. He showed me how to do get a good shine. One Saturday, I stopped in and asked Tom if I could shine shoes every Saturday. I charged 10 cents a shine—my first real job at 12 years old. On a good day I could make a dollar, which meant I could buy a milkshake a day for four days and read the hot rod magazines.
